A critique of the future of interaction design
Summary
Bret Victor criticises visions of the future that reduce human hands to smooth glass surfaces and calls for richer physical interaction. A universal surface can be functionally flexible and physically impoverished at the same time. Technical progress should be measured by human expression, not just by shrinking devices.
Ideas
- Hands can sense shape, weight, resistance and position at the same time.
- Touchscreens provide visual flexibility but hardly any tangible structure or feedback.
- Good designs for the future should extend human abilities instead of leaving many of them unused.
Recommendations
- Try out physical controls, haptics and spatial arrangement for frequent tasks.
- Also assess interfaces without looking and under motor strain.
References
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